Objective: To characterize the features of bradykinesia in newly diagnosed patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD) and the response to pramipexole and selegiline administration.

Background: Motor impairment in PD includes slowness (bradykinesia), decreased amplitude (hypokinesia) and progressive reduction in speed and amplitude during movements repetition (sequence effect), (Agostino et al., 1992; Espay et al., 2011). The available data, however, does not allow to establish to which extent this movement abnormalities characterize the early stage of PD.

Methods: Twenty-six newly diagnosed and previously untreated PD patients and nineteen healthy controls performed a repetitive finger tapping task. Patients were assessed in two separate sessions, at least four weeks apart: OFF and ON selegiline (10 mg taken daily) or pramipexole (0.75-1.50 mg taken daily). The analysis of repetitive finger movement was performed using kinematic techniques.

Results: The speed and amplitude of the repetitive finger movement was lower in early PD patients than in healthy controls. Patients also had a more severe sequence effect, than healthy controls during finger movements repetition. Pramipexole and selegiline administration improved both the overall speed and amplitude but they did not influence the sequence effect.

Conclusions: The study provides information for a more accurate characterization of motor impairment in early PD and for a better understanding and interpretation of its pathophysiological mechanisms. The results could be relevant for a more accurate assessment and follow-up of newly diagnosed PD patients.

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MDS Abstracts - https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/kinematic-analysis-of-repetitive-finger-movements-and-the-effects-of-selegiline-and-pramipexole-in-early-parkinsons-disease/